diff --git a/packages/ui/src/components/layout/MainLayout.tsx b/packages/ui/src/components/layout/MainLayout.tsx
index 0494bca2..ad79085d 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/components/layout/MainLayout.tsx
+++ b/packages/ui/src/components/layout/MainLayout.tsx
@@ -144,23 +144,39 @@ export const MainLayout: React.FC = () => {
         }
     }, [isRightSidebarOpen, isMobile]);
 
-    // Trigger initial update check shortly after mount, then every hour.
+    // Trigger initial update check shortly after mount, then repeat using server-suggested cadence.
     const checkForUpdates = useUpdateStore((state) => state.checkForUpdates);
     React.useEffect(() => {
         const initialDelayMs = 3000;
-        const periodicIntervalMs = 60 * 60 * 1000;
+        const defaultIntervalMs = 60 * 60 * 1000;
+        const minIntervalMs = 5 * 60 * 1000;
+        const maxIntervalMs = 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000;
+        let disposed = false;
+        let timer: number | null = null;
 
-        const timer = window.setTimeout(() => {
-            checkForUpdates();
-        }, initialDelayMs);
+        const clampIntervalMs = (seconds: number): number => {
+            const ms = Math.round(seconds * 1000);
+            return Math.max(minIntervalMs, Math.min(maxIntervalMs, ms));
+        };
 
-        const interval = window.setInterval(() => {
-            checkForUpdates();
-        }, periodicIntervalMs);
+        const scheduleNext = (delayMs: number) => {
+            if (disposed) return;
+            timer = window.setTimeout(async () => {
+                const suggestedSec = await checkForUpdates();
+                const nextDelay = typeof suggestedSec === 'number' && Number.isFinite(suggestedSec)
+                    ? clampIntervalMs(suggestedSec)
+                    : defaultIntervalMs;
+                scheduleNext(nextDelay);
+            }, delayMs);
+        };
+
+        scheduleNext(initialDelayMs);
 
         return () => {
-            window.clearTimeout(timer);
-            window.clearInterval(interval);
+            disposed = true;
+            if (timer !== null) {
+                window.clearTimeout(timer);
+            }
         };
     }, [checkForUpdates]);
 
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/lib/desktop.ts b/packages/ui/src/lib/desktop.ts
index f9e7c628..811a92ed 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/lib/desktop.ts
+++ b/packages/ui/src/lib/desktop.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ export type UpdateInfo = {
   currentVersion: string;
   body?: string;
   date?: string;
+  nextSuggestedCheckInSec?: number;
   // Web-specific fields
   packageManager?: string;
   updateCommand?: string;
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/stores/useUpdateStore.ts b/packages/ui/src/stores/useUpdateStore.ts
index 7f5a7931..2ce066e8 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/stores/useUpdateStore.ts
+++ b/packages/ui/src/stores/useUpdateStore.ts
@@ -1,11 +1,13 @@
 import { create } from 'zustand';
 import type { UpdateInfo, UpdateProgress } from '@/lib/desktop';
+import { getDeviceInfo } from '@/lib/device';
 import {
   checkForDesktopUpdates,
   downloadDesktopUpdate,
   restartToApplyUpdate,
   isDesktopLocalOriginActive,
   isTauriShell,
+  isVSCodeRuntime,
   isWebRuntime,
 } from '@/lib/desktop';
 
@@ -19,19 +21,77 @@ export type UpdateState = {
   error: string | null;
   runtimeType: 'desktop' | 'web' | 'vscode' | null;
   lastChecked: number | null;
+  nextCheckInSec: number | null;
 };
 
 interface UpdateStore extends UpdateState {
-  checkForUpdates: () => Promise<void>;
+  checkForUpdates: () => Promise<number | null>;
   downloadUpdate: () => Promise<void>;
   restartToUpdate: () => Promise<void>;
   dismiss: () => void;
   reset: () => void;
 }
 
-async function checkForWebUpdates(): Promise<UpdateInfo | null> {
+type ClientRuntime = 'desktop' | 'web' | 'vscode';
+
+function detectDeviceClass(): 'mobile' | 'tablet' | 'desktop' | 'unknown' {
+  if (typeof window === 'undefined') return 'unknown';
   try {
-    const response = await fetch('/api/openchamber/update-check', {
+    const { deviceType } = getDeviceInfo();
+    return deviceType;
+  } catch {
+    return 'unknown';
+  }
+}
+
+function detectArch(): 'arm64' | 'x64' | 'unknown' {
+  const nav = typeof navigator !== 'undefined' ? (navigator as Navigator & { userAgentData?: { architecture?: string } }).userAgentData : undefined;
+  const fromUAData = nav?.architecture?.toLowerCase?.();
+  if (fromUAData === 'arm' || fromUAData === 'arm64' || fromUAData === 'aarch64') return 'arm64';
+  if (fromUAData === 'x86' || fromUAData === 'x64' || fromUAData === 'amd64') return 'x64';
+
+  const ua = typeof navigator !== 'undefined' ? navigator.userAgent.toLowerCase() : '';
+  if (ua.includes('aarch64') || ua.includes('arm64') || ua.includes('armv')) return 'arm64';
+  if (ua.includes('x86_64') || ua.includes('x64') || ua.includes('amd64') || ua.includes('win64')) return 'x64';
+  return 'unknown';
+}
+
+function detectPlatform(): 'macos' | 'windows' | 'linux' | 'web' {
+  if (typeof navigator === 'undefined') return 'web';
+  const platform = (navigator.platform || '').toLowerCase();
+  if (platform.includes('mac')) return 'macos';
+  if (platform.includes('win')) return 'windows';
+  if (platform.includes('linux')) return 'linux';
+  return 'web';
+}
+
+function mapRuntimeParams(runtime: ClientRuntime): URLSearchParams {
+  const params = new URLSearchParams({ reportUsage: 'true' });
+  params.set('deviceClass', detectDeviceClass());
+  params.set('arch', detectArch());
+  params.set('platform', detectPlatform());
+  if (runtime === 'desktop') {
+    params.set('appType', 'desktop-tauri');
+    params.set('instanceMode', isDesktopLocalOriginActive() ? 'local' : 'remote');
+    return params;
+  }
+
+  if (runtime === 'vscode') {
+    params.set('appType', 'vscode');
+    params.set('instanceMode', 'local');
+    return params;
+  }
+
+  params.set('appType', 'web');
+  params.set('instanceMode', 'unknown');
+  return params;
+}
+
+async function checkForWebUpdates(runtime: ClientRuntime, currentVersion?: string): Promise<UpdateInfo | null> {
+  try {
+    const params = mapRuntimeParams(runtime);
+    if (currentVersion) params.set('currentVersion', currentVersion);
+    const response = await fetch(`/api/openchamber/update-check?${params.toString()}`, {
       method: 'GET',
       headers: { Accept: 'application/json' },
     });
@@ -46,11 +106,15 @@ async function checkForWebUpdates(): Promise<UpdateInfo | null> {
       version: data.version,
       currentVersion: data.currentVersion ?? 'unknown',
       body: data.body,
+      nextSuggestedCheckInSec:
+        typeof data.nextSuggestedCheckInSec === 'number' && Number.isFinite(data.nextSuggestedCheckInSec)
+          ? data.nextSuggestedCheckInSec
+          : undefined,
       packageManager: data.packageManager,
       updateCommand: data.updateCommand,
     };
   } catch (error) {
-    console.warn('Failed to check for web updates:', error);
+    console.warn('Failed to check for updates:', error);
     return null;
   }
 }
@@ -61,6 +125,7 @@ function detectRuntimeType(): 'desktop' | 'web' | 'vscode' | null {
     // When viewing a remote host inside the desktop shell, treat update as web update.
     return isDesktopLocalOriginActive() ? 'desktop' : 'web';
   }
+  if (isVSCodeRuntime()) return 'vscode';
   if (isWebRuntime()) return 'web';
   return null;
 }
@@ -75,6 +140,7 @@ const initialState: UpdateState = {
   error: null,
   runtimeType: null,
   lastChecked: null,
+  nextCheckInSec: null,
 };
 
 export const useUpdateStore = create<UpdateStore>()((set, get) => ({
@@ -82,30 +148,40 @@ export const useUpdateStore = create<UpdateStore>()((set, get) => ({
 
   checkForUpdates: async () => {
     const runtime = detectRuntimeType();
-    if (!runtime) return;
+    if (!runtime) return null;
 
     set({ checking: true, error: null, runtimeType: runtime });
 
     try {
       let info: UpdateInfo | null = null;
+      let suggestedSec: number | null = null;
 
       if (runtime === 'desktop') {
         info = await checkForDesktopUpdates();
+        const sidecarInfo = await checkForWebUpdates('desktop', info?.currentVersion);
+        suggestedSec = sidecarInfo?.nextSuggestedCheckInSec ?? null;
       } else if (runtime === 'web') {
-        info = await checkForWebUpdates();
+        info = await checkForWebUpdates('web');
+        suggestedSec = info?.nextSuggestedCheckInSec ?? null;
+      } else if (runtime === 'vscode') {
+        const vscodeInfo = await checkForWebUpdates('vscode');
+        suggestedSec = vscodeInfo?.nextSuggestedCheckInSec ?? null;
       }
 
       set({
         checking: false,
-        available: info?.available ?? false,
-        info,
+        available: runtime === 'vscode' ? false : (info?.available ?? false),
+        info: runtime === 'vscode' ? null : info,
         lastChecked: Date.now(),
+        nextCheckInSec: suggestedSec,
       });
+      return suggestedSec;
     } catch (error) {
       set({
         checking: false,
         error: error instanceof Error ? error.message : 'Failed to check for updates',
       });
+      return null;
     }
   },
 
diff --git a/packages/vscode/src/bridge.ts b/packages/vscode/src/bridge.ts
index cfaa94c0..a78e5aa6 100644
--- a/packages/vscode/src/bridge.ts
+++ b/packages/vscode/src/bridge.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import * as vscode from 'vscode';
 import * as os from 'os';
 import * as path from 'path';
 import * as fs from 'fs';
+import { randomUUID } from 'crypto';
 import { spawn, execFile } from 'child_process';
 import { promisify } from 'util';
 import { type OpenCodeManager } from './opencode';
@@ -112,6 +113,37 @@ const execFileAsync = promisify(execFile);
 const gpgconfCandidates = ['gpgconf', '/opt/homebrew/bin/gpgconf', '/usr/local/bin/gpgconf'];
 
 const OPENCHAMBER_SHARED_SETTINGS_PATH = path.join(os.homedir(), '.config', 'openchamber', 'settings.json');
+const VSCODE_INSTALL_ID_KEY = 'openchamber.installId.vscode';
+const UPDATE_CHECK_URL = process.env.OPENCHAMBER_UPDATE_API_URL || 'https://api.openchamber.dev/v1/update/check';
+
+const mapNodePlatformToApiPlatform = (value: string): 'macos' | 'windows' | 'linux' | 'web' => {
+  if (value === 'darwin') return 'macos';
+  if (value === 'win32') return 'windows';
+  if (value === 'linux') return 'linux';
+  return 'web';
+};
+
+const mapNodeArchToApiArch = (value: string): 'arm64' | 'x64' | 'unknown' => {
+  if (value === 'arm64' || value === 'aarch64') return 'arm64';
+  if (value === 'x64' || value === 'amd64') return 'x64';
+  return 'unknown';
+};
+
+const getOrCreateVSCodeInstallId = async (ctx?: BridgeContext): Promise<string> => {
+  const state = ctx?.context?.globalState;
+  if (state) {
+    const existing = state.get<string>(VSCODE_INSTALL_ID_KEY);
+    if (typeof existing === 'string' && existing.trim().length > 0) {
+      return existing.trim();
+    }
+  }
+
+  const generated = randomUUID();
+  if (state) {
+    await state.update(VSCODE_INSTALL_ID_KEY, generated);
+  }
+  return generated;
+};
 
 const guessMimeTypeFromExtension = (ext: string) => {
   switch (ext) {
@@ -2890,6 +2922,56 @@ export async function handleBridgeMessage(message: BridgeRequest, ctx?: BridgeCo
         }
       }
 
+      case 'api:openchamber:update-check': {
+        try {
+          const body = (payload && typeof payload === 'object' ? payload : {}) as Record<string, unknown>;
+          const currentVersion = typeof body.currentVersion === 'string' && body.currentVersion.trim().length > 0
+            ? body.currentVersion.trim()
+            : 'unknown';
+          const instanceMode = typeof body.instanceMode === 'string' && body.instanceMode.trim().length > 0
+            ? body.instanceMode.trim()
+            : 'local';
+          const deviceClass = typeof body.deviceClass === 'string' && body.deviceClass.trim().length > 0
+            ? body.deviceClass.trim()
+            : 'desktop';
+          const reportUsage = body.reportUsage !== false;
+
+          const installId = await getOrCreateVSCodeInstallId(ctx);
+          const requestBody = {
+            appType: 'vscode',
+            deviceClass,
+            platform: mapNodePlatformToApiPlatform(os.platform()),
+            arch: mapNodeArchToApiArch(os.arch()),
+            channel: 'stable',
+            currentVersion,
+            installId,
+            instanceMode,
+            reportUsage,
+          };
+
+          const response = await fetch(UPDATE_CHECK_URL, {
+            method: 'POST',
+            headers: {
+              Accept: 'application/json',
+              'Content-Type': 'application/json',
+            },
+            body: JSON.stringify(requestBody),
+            signal: AbortSignal.timeout(10_000),
+          });
+
+          if (!response.ok) {
+            const text = await response.text().catch(() => 'update check failed');
+            return { id, type, success: false, error: text || `Update check failed with ${response.status}` };
+          }
+
+          const data = await response.json();
+          return { id, type, success: true, data };
+        } catch (error) {
+          const errorMessage = error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error);
+          return { id, type, success: false, error: errorMessage };
+        }
+      }
+
       case 'editor:openFile': {
         const { path: filePath, line, column } = payload as { path: string; line?: number; column?: number };
         try {
diff --git a/packages/vscode/webview/main.tsx b/packages/vscode/webview/main.tsx
index 5df6fed6..8670ede5 100644
--- a/packages/vscode/webview/main.tsx
+++ b/packages/vscode/webview/main.tsx
@@ -746,6 +746,26 @@ const handleLocalApiRequest = async (url: URL, init?: RequestInit) => {
     }
   }
 
+  if (pathname.startsWith('/api/openchamber/update-check')) {
+    try {
+      const currentVersion = url.searchParams.get('currentVersion') || undefined;
+      const instanceMode = url.searchParams.get('instanceMode') || 'local';
+      const deviceClass = url.searchParams.get('deviceClass') || 'desktop';
+      const reportUsageRaw = (url.searchParams.get('reportUsage') || 'true').toLowerCase();
+      const reportUsage = !(reportUsageRaw === 'false' || reportUsageRaw === '0' || reportUsageRaw === 'no');
+      const data = await sendBridgeMessage('api:openchamber:update-check', {
+        currentVersion,
+        instanceMode,
+        deviceClass,
+        reportUsage,
+      });
+      return new Response(JSON.stringify(data), { status: 200, headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' } });
+    } catch (error) {
+      const message = error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error);
+      return new Response(JSON.stringify({ available: false, error: message }), { status: 502, headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' } });
+    }
+  }
+
   if (pathname === '/auth/session') {
     // VS Code host is trusted; mirror web server shape to keep UI logic happy
     const body = {
diff --git a/packages/web/server/index.js b/packages/web/server/index.js
index 42634344..fb730830 100644
--- a/packages/web/server/index.js
+++ b/packages/web/server/index.js
@@ -7556,10 +7556,49 @@ async function main(options = {}) {
     });
   });
 
-  app.get('/api/openchamber/update-check', async (_req, res) => {
+  app.get('/api/openchamber/update-check', async (req, res) => {
     try {
       const { checkForUpdates } = await import('./lib/package-manager.js');
-      const updateInfo = await checkForUpdates();
+      const parseString = (value) => (typeof value === 'string' && value.trim().length > 0 ? value.trim() : undefined);
+      const parseReportUsage = (value) => {
+        if (typeof value !== 'string') return true;
+        const normalized = value.trim().toLowerCase();
+        if (normalized === 'false' || normalized === '0' || normalized === 'no') return false;
+        return true;
+      };
+      const inferDeviceClass = (ua) => {
+        const value = (ua || '').toLowerCase();
+        if (!value) return 'unknown';
+        if (value.includes('ipad') || value.includes('tablet')) return 'tablet';
+        if (value.includes('mobi') || value.includes('android') || value.includes('iphone')) return 'mobile';
+        return 'desktop';
+      };
+      const inferArch = (ua) => {
+        const value = (ua || '').toLowerCase();
+        if (!value) return 'unknown';
+        if (value.includes('aarch64') || value.includes('arm64') || value.includes(' arm;') || value.includes('armv')) return 'arm64';
+        if (value.includes('x86_64') || value.includes('x64') || value.includes('amd64') || value.includes('win64') || value.includes('x86-64')) return 'x64';
+        return 'unknown';
+      };
+      const inferPlatform = (ua) => {
+        const value = (ua || '').toLowerCase();
+        if (!value) return undefined;
+        if (value.includes('mac os') || value.includes('macintosh') || value.includes('darwin')) return 'macos';
+        if (value.includes('windows') || value.includes('win32') || value.includes('win64')) return 'windows';
+        if (value.includes('linux') || value.includes('x11')) return 'linux';
+        return 'web';
+      };
+      const userAgent = typeof req.headers['user-agent'] === 'string' ? req.headers['user-agent'] : '';
+
+      const updateInfo = await checkForUpdates({
+        appType: parseString(req.query.appType),
+        deviceClass: parseString(req.query.deviceClass) || inferDeviceClass(userAgent),
+        platform: parseString(req.query.platform) || inferPlatform(userAgent),
+        arch: parseString(req.query.arch) || inferArch(userAgent),
+        instanceMode: parseString(req.query.instanceMode),
+        currentVersion: parseString(req.query.currentVersion),
+        reportUsage: parseReportUsage(parseString(req.query.reportUsage)),
+      });
       res.json(updateInfo);
     } catch (error) {
       console.error('Failed to check for updates:', error);
diff --git a/packages/web/server/lib/package-manager.js b/packages/web/server/lib/package-manager.js
index 932cedf2..cc4b21c3 100644
--- a/packages/web/server/lib/package-manager.js
+++ b/packages/web/server/lib/package-manager.js
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 import { spawnSync } from 'child_process';
+import crypto from 'crypto';
 import fs from 'fs';
+import os from 'os';
 import path from 'path';
 import { fileURLToPath } from 'url';
 
@@ -9,6 +11,116 @@ const __dirname = path.dirname(__filename);
 const PACKAGE_NAME = '@openchamber/web';
 const NPM_REGISTRY_URL = `https://registry.npmjs.org/${PACKAGE_NAME}`;
 const CHANGELOG_URL = 'https://raw.githubusercontent.com/btriapitsyn/openchamber/main/CHANGELOG.md';
+const UPDATE_CHECK_URL = process.env.OPENCHAMBER_UPDATE_API_URL || 'https://api.openchamber.dev/v1/update/check';
+
+function getOpenChamberConfigDir() {
+  if (process.platform === 'win32') {
+    const appData = process.env.APPDATA;
+    if (appData) return path.join(appData, 'openchamber');
+  }
+
+  return path.join(os.homedir(), '.config', 'openchamber');
+}
+
+function sanitizeInstallScope(scope) {
+  if (scope === 'desktop-tauri' || scope === 'vscode' || scope === 'web') return scope;
+  return 'web';
+}
+
+function getOrCreateInstallId(scope = 'web') {
+  const configDir = getOpenChamberConfigDir();
+  const normalizedScope = sanitizeInstallScope(scope);
+  const idPath = path.join(configDir, `install-id-${normalizedScope}`);
+
+  try {
+    const existing = fs.readFileSync(idPath, 'utf8').trim();
+    if (existing) return existing;
+  } catch {
+    // Generate new id.
+  }
+
+  const installId = crypto.randomUUID();
+  fs.mkdirSync(configDir, { recursive: true });
+  fs.writeFileSync(idPath, `${installId}\n`, { encoding: 'utf8', mode: 0o600 });
+  return installId;
+}
+
+function mapPlatform(value) {
+  if (value === 'darwin') return 'macos';
+  if (value === 'win32') return 'windows';
+  if (value === 'linux') return 'linux';
+  return 'web';
+}
+
+function mapArch(value) {
+  if (value === 'arm64' || value === 'aarch64') return 'arm64';
+  if (value === 'x64' || value === 'amd64') return 'x64';
+  return 'unknown';
+}
+
+function normalizeAppType(value) {
+  if (value === 'web' || value === 'desktop-tauri' || value === 'vscode') return value;
+  return 'web';
+}
+
+function normalizeDeviceClass(value) {
+  if (value === 'mobile' || value === 'tablet' || value === 'desktop' || value === 'unknown') return value;
+  return 'unknown';
+}
+
+function normalizePlatform(value) {
+  if (value === 'macos' || value === 'windows' || value === 'linux' || value === 'web') return value;
+  return mapPlatform(process.platform);
+}
+
+function normalizeArch(value) {
+  if (value === 'arm64' || value === 'x64' || value === 'unknown') return value;
+  return mapArch(process.arch);
+}
+
+async function checkForUpdatesFromApi(currentVersion, options = {}) {
+  try {
+    const appType = normalizeAppType(options.appType);
+    const payload = {
+      appType,
+      deviceClass: normalizeDeviceClass(options.deviceClass),
+      platform: normalizePlatform(options.platform),
+      arch: normalizeArch(options.arch),
+      channel: 'stable',
+      currentVersion,
+      installId: getOrCreateInstallId(appType),
+      instanceMode: options.instanceMode || 'unknown',
+      reportUsage: options.reportUsage !== false,
+    };
+
+    const response = await fetch(UPDATE_CHECK_URL, {
+      method: 'POST',
+      headers: {
+        Accept: 'application/json',
+        'Content-Type': 'application/json',
+      },
+      body: JSON.stringify(payload),
+      signal: AbortSignal.timeout(10000),
+    });
+
+    if (!response.ok) return null;
+    const data = await response.json();
+    if (typeof data?.latestVersion !== 'string') return null;
+
+    return {
+      available: Boolean(data.updateAvailable),
+      version: data.latestVersion,
+      currentVersion,
+      body: typeof data.releaseNotes === 'string' ? data.releaseNotes : undefined,
+      nextSuggestedCheckInSec:
+        typeof data.nextSuggestedCheckInSec === 'number' && Number.isFinite(data.nextSuggestedCheckInSec)
+          ? data.nextSuggestedCheckInSec
+          : undefined,
+    };
+  } catch {
+    return null;
+  }
+}
 
 /**
  * Detect which package manager was used to install this package.
@@ -304,11 +416,21 @@ export async function fetchChangelogNotes(fromVersion, toVersion) {
   }
 }
 
-/**
- * Check for updates and return update info
- */
-export async function checkForUpdates() {
-  const currentVersion = getCurrentVersion();
+export async function checkForUpdates(options = {}) {
+  const currentVersion = options.currentVersion || getCurrentVersion();
+  const pm = detectPackageManager();
+
+  if (currentVersion !== 'unknown') {
+    const remote = await checkForUpdatesFromApi(currentVersion, options);
+    if (remote) {
+      return {
+        ...remote,
+        packageManager: pm,
+        updateCommand: 'openchamber update',
+      };
+    }
+  }
+
   const latestVersion = await getLatestVersion();
 
   if (!latestVersion || currentVersion === 'unknown') {
@@ -323,8 +445,6 @@ export async function checkForUpdates() {
   const latestNum = parseVersion(latestVersion);
   const available = latestNum > currentNum;
 
-  const pm = detectPackageManager();
-
   let changelog;
   if (available) {
     changelog = await fetchChangelogNotes(currentVersion, latestVersion);